Connecting means between a support cap and a prop head

ABSTRACT

Means for establishing a connection between a support cap and a prop head for pit props of the type used in the mining industry, the support cap comprising a bar or the like supporting an upper bed such as a hanging wall or roof of the mine, and the pit prop constituting a hydraulic cylinder with its ram, or prop head, bracing against the support cap, the connecting means comprising a pair of securing elements releasably fixed to the outer free end of the ram and releasably fixed to the support cap.

United States Patent Wehrens Jan. 1, 1974 CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN ASUPPORT CAP AND A PROP HEAD [75] Inventor: Diethard Wehrens, Sythen,Germany [73] Assignee: Klockner-Werke Aktiengesellschaft,

Duisburg, Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 230,604

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 5, I97! Germany P 21 10497.2

[52] U.S. Cl. 248/357 [51] Int. Cl E2ld 15/00 [58] Field of Search248/48, 357

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 926,638 6/1909 Barton 248/483,722,846 3/1973 Albrecht 248/357 Primary ExaminerWilliam H. SchultzAttorney-Kenwood Ross et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT Means for establishing a connection between a support capand a prop head for pit props of the type used in the mining industry,the support cap comprising a bar or the like supporting an upper bedsuch as a hanging wall or roof of the mine, and the pit propconstituting a hydraulic cylinder with its ram, or prop head, bracingagainst the support cap, the connecting means comprising a pair ofsecuring elements releasably fixed to the outer free end of the ram andreleasably fixed to the support cap.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CONNECTING MEANS BETWEEN A SUPPORT CAP AND APROP HEAD Said copending application discloses a connecting meansbetween a support cap and a prop head for pit props, which allows alimited pivoting of the support cap and the prop head relative to eachother as well as precluding a raising off of the support cap, with thesecuring element projecting into at least one support member releasablyfastened to the support cap.

The support member projects into a hollow section of the support cap andits arms are fastened to the lower wall of the hollow section of thesupport cap. A bolt disposed in a groove or bore of the support memberis provided as a securing element. The support member is constructed asa circular part extending around the axis of the prop. The groove orbore provided for the insertion of the securing element is arranged inthe longitudinal direction of the support.

It is an object of this invention to connect the support cap with a prophead for pit props so that it is possible to replace the securingelement easily.

Herein, the support members consist of two oppositely facing supportelements arranged in the longitu dinal direction of the support cap.

Thus, a connecting means is obtained between a support cap and a prophead for pit props fully accomplishing the before mentioned objects ofthis invention. In addition, the removal of props is facilitated withoutrisk of damage to the other props in case repairs are necessary.

Furthermore, the invention is characterized by the fact that the lowerpart of each support element is releasably fastened to the lower wall ofthe support cap, whereas the upper part of each support element ishook-shaped and passes through an opening of the ball pan element fixedto the upper wall of the support cap.

It is advantageous to have a groove with a securing element therein inthe upper part of each support element. This simplifies the removal ofprops in case repairs are necessary so that first the lower part of eachsupport element is loosened from the lower wall of the support cap andthen the support elements are pivoted relative to the prop until thehook-shaped extensions of the upper part of the support elements arereleased from the ball pan element. The support elements can then bemanually removed. The prop is then released, while the ram or interiorprop is lowered together with the securing element while the support capremains in a raised position, being so supported by adjacent props.

The invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings;however, the drawings only show one manner of practicing the invention.Various other forms of the invention are possible.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section along the central axis of the hollowsection of a support cap; and

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1, with thesupport element on the right side of the Figure not being sectioned.

A horizontally-disposed support cap 1 is in the form of a bar or thelike having a hollow section with spaced parallel upper and lower walls.

A bell-shaped ball cap element 2, which extends between the upper andlower walls is fixed to the lower surface of the upper wall and isprovided with a ball cup or recess 3 centrally of its downwardly facingupper I wall in which a prop head 4 of a ram 16 of a hydraulic cylinderor prop 5 is receivable, the ram passing through a provided opening in alower wall 11 of the support cap.

The support cap 1 and prop head 4 are constructed for limiting pivotingmovements relative to each other and any unintentional raising of thesupport cap is precluded. A securing element 10 in the form of a pin orrod extends between a pair of support elements 6 releasably fastened tothe lower wall 11 of the support cap 1, the securing elementadditionally passing through prop head 4.

The prop 5 and the cap 1 are connected by the two support elements 6which are oppositely-facing in the longitudinal direction to the supportcap 1. An upper part 7 of each of these support elements 6 is hookshapedand has two laterally extending extensions 8 and 8' on each side of agroove 9 which passes between them and in which securing element 10 isdisposed.

The upper part 7 of each securing element 6 passes through an opening 17in the upper wall of the ball cap element 2 and the hook-shapedextensions 8 and 8' grip behind the ball cap element 2.

Support members 6 are each provided with a lower arm 15 which passesdownwardly and outwardly through the opening in lower wall 11 of thesupport cap.

The lower free ends of arms 15 are bent upwardly so as to be disposedimmediately below and in parallel relation to lower wall 11 of thesupport cap.

Pairs of depending ears 12 are provided on lower wall 11 and are sodisposed that the lower free ends of arms 15 pass therebetween.

A bolt or locking pin 14 which passes through aligned openings 13 inears 12 below the lower free ends of arms 15 serves to clamp the supportmembers 6 to the support cap.

When the prop 5 is released, the ram or interior prop 16 descends, withthe securing element 10 descending therewith, being supported in thegrooves 9 of the support elements 6. The lateral extensions 8 and 8'pull the ball cap element 2 and the support cap 1 downwardly withoutplacing any undue stress on the bolts 14.

If repairs are necessary, the bolts 14 are removed. Support elements arethen swivelled toward prop 5 until the lateral extensions 8 and 8' clearball cap element 2.

When the support elements are manually removed from the ball capelement, the prop can be released and the interior prop 16 and securingelement lowered, while the support cap remains in a raised positionbeing supported by adjacent props.

I claim:

1. Means for establishing a connection between a support cap of the typeincluding a hollow section having upper and lower walls and a prop headfor a pit prop comprising: a pair of support members, a securing elementfixing the support members to the prop head, and each support memberincluding adjacent its upper end a pair of hook-shaped portions andlateral extensions disposed one on each side of a longitudinal grooveand releasably engageable with the support cap, the support membersprojecting into the hollow section of the support cap with armsextending below the lower wall of the support cap.

2. Means for establishing a connection according to claim 1, with thescecuring element comprising a pin passing through the prop head anddisposed in the grooves of the support members.

1. Means for establishing a connection between a support cap of the typeincluding a hollow section having upper and lower walls and a prop headfor a pit prop comprising: a pair of support members, a securing elementfixing the support members to the prop head, and each support memberincluding adjacent its upper end a pair of hook-shaped portions andlateral extensions disposed one on each side of a longitudinal grooveand releasably engageable with the support cap, the support membersprojecting into the hollow section of the support cap with armsextending below the lower wall of the support cap.
 2. Means forestablishing a connection according to claim 1, with the securingelement comprising a pin passing through the prop head and disposed inthe grooves of the support members.